AMEX Joins Project Blue As Payment Partner

American Express Paddles Out With Project Blue As The Official Payments Partner

December 2, 2009 – San Clemente, CA: project BLUE, the environmental initiative established to raise funds in support of the non-profit Surfrider Foundation, is excited to announce that American Express has joined as project BLUE’s first ever payments partner.

American Express’ support will help to launch project BLUE’s “All I want for the holidays is a clean ocean,” e-card campaign. In addition, American Express will donate $5.00 per transaction, up to $10,000, to the Surfrider Foundation each time any American Express® Card is used to purchase products on Swell.com between November 27 and December 31, 2009.

project BLUE is an initiative by leading brands in the surf industry who have come together to develop a co-branded, limited edition product line where a part of the proceeds go to Surfrider. As project BLUE’s first payments partner, American Express joins Billabong, DAKINE, Electric, Famous Wax, Nixon, O’Neill, Reef and Swell.com in their support of the groundbreaking industry initiative.

“Helping to preserve our natural resources is core to American Express’ commitment to serving our communities,” said Angel Maroto, Vice President, Western Region, American Express Global Merchant Services. “American Express is proud to join with our cardmembers so that when they buy, the beaches win.’”

While the project BLUE product line is constantly evolving, it currently includes a range of organic cotton t-shirts, polarized sunglasses, surf watches, footwear, surf traction accessories, in addition to a selection of boardshorts, wetsuits and backpacks all made from made from recycled plastic bottles.

The “All I want for the holidays is a clean ocean” campaign will kick off on November 27, 2009 online at via project BLUE’s homepage at www.betruetoblue.com.

About American Express
Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe, which welcome American Express-branded Cards. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network, travel and banking company founded in 1850. For more information, please visit www.americanexpress.com.

About project BLUE
project BLUE is an unprecedented collaboration of leading and competitive brands in the multi-billion dollar surf industry. Each of the project BLUE product partners has created special edition merchandise specifically for the initiative, with a portion of the proceeds from each sale going towards the non-profit Surfrider Foundation. Billabong, DAKINE, Electric, Famous Wax, Nixon, O’Neill and Reef have all pledged their long-term support for the program. American Express lends support to the initiative as the official payments sponsor.
project BLUE products can be found worldwide at leading surf retailers and online at www.Swell.com. More information on project BLUE and its partners can be found at www.betruetoblue.com or by following it on Twitter @betruetoblue.

About The Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Now in its 25th year, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, California to a global movement made up of over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. For more information visit us at www.surfrider.org.